SEATTLE -– Entering this season the A’s appeared to have a plethora of starting pitching options.
That depth has taken a hit, obviously, with news that Jarrod Parker must undergo another elbow surgery and A.J. Griffin is dealing with a shoulder problem. That means the search is on for pitchers who are ready to contribute, and possibly soon.
One name that factors prominently now for Oakland is left-hander Sean Nolin. He’s one of four players the A’s acquired from Toronto for Josh Donaldson, but he quickly fell off the radar during spring training after he was sidelined early from complications stemming from sports hernia surgery.
[STIGLICH: Parker will require surgery for elbow fracture]
The 25-year-old is healthy and threw two scoreless innings for Triple-A Nashville on Saturday night against Round Rock. A’s manager Bob Melvin said Nolin will make a start in his next outing, and that the lefty could factor in as a starter or reliever at some point for the big club.
“We weren’t able to see him at all in the spring,” Melvin said. “He was one of the key members of that trade. Being left-handed, we were excited about seeing what he had to offer. And we just haven’t to this point. We’re trying to give ourselves options by starting him.”
Figure that another offseason acquisition, Chris Bassitt, has entered the A’s thoughts as a starting option too. Bassitt made five appearances during spring training, three of them starts, before he was sent down to work on pitching inside to left-handers better. Bassitt was recalled from the minors April 23 and has made five relief appearances since.
Given the A’s need for starting depth, and that the big league rotation has been a question mark beyond Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bassitt sent down just so he can be stretched out in a starting role at Triple-A.
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Melvin reiterated his sympathy for Jarrod Parker, after X-rays and a CT scan showed the right-hander has a fractured right elbow. A date hasn’t been set for surgery yet.
“Hopeully we’ll see him pretty soon,” Melvin said. “He’ll probably need his teammates, to be around the guys for support. One, to have it happen again. Two, to see how it happened and now to get the diagnosis. I don’t know that you could feel worse for a guy.”
The manager said Parker told him that “Emotionally right now, I’m just numb.”
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Closer Sean Doolittle will face hitters for the second time Monday, but no word yet on how close a minor league rehab assignment is.
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Left fielder Coco Crisp, still hitless in four games since coming off the disabled list, is not in Sunday’s lineup. But Melvin said he’ll start playing Crisp more regularly beginning on the upcoming homestand as he works his way back into shape following arthroscopic elbow surgery. Sam Fuld draws the start in left Sunday against Mariners ace Felix Hernandez.